A Significant Movement by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

A Significant Movement

By Arthur G. Daniells

THOSE who are watching the movements of the Catholic Church in the United States must be profoundly impressed with the remarkable foresight by which its leaders are directing their great activities. One of the many efforts they are making to secure a controlling influence over affairs in this country is that of missionary endeavor among what they call non-Catholics. This phase of their work is more clearly set forth in

the following statement than in any other that has come under my notice.

This statement was given to the public during the late convention of the American Federation of Catholic Societies held in Indianapolis, Ind. It appeared in the Indianapolis News of July 17, 1907, and reads as follows:—

One of the leaders in the work of the Catholic Church in this country in attendance at the annual convention of the American Federation of Catholic Societies is the Rev. Alexander P. Doyle, rector of the Apostolic Mission House, at Washington. He accompanied Monsignor Falconio to the city, and is looked upon rather as representing his ideas in the convention.

The Mission House, with which Father Doyle is connected, is rapidly growing in importance and broadening its work. In a little leaflet which Father Doyle is giving out the work is explained in part thus:—

“The Apostolic Mission House is situated in the city of Washington on the grounds of the Catholic University. Its definite purpose is to train secular priests to be diocesan missionaries, particularly to non-Catholics.

They Are Picked Priests

“These picked priests are sent by their respective bishops to the Apostolic Mission House, where, through a year or, better, two years, they are thoroughly trained for their special work. During this time they live in a missionary atmosphere with companions who are consecrated to the same work. They sit down to write out an entire course of sermons on topics that are the great subjects of preaching and are best calculated to awaken consciences.

“They assemble the best arguments to explain and defend the teaching of the church. They go over the whole field of controversial literature, so that they may be apt in answering questions that come to them in the question box. They learn the best methods of giving to missions that have the sanction of the great missionaries and saints of the church.

“The scope of the non-Catholic mission movement includes as one of its practical purposes the placing in every diocese of a band of good preachers made up of the priests, who are immediately subject to the bishops, and whose primary occupation will be to go into the cities, towns, and country places, wherever they may gather an audience, and while explaining the teachings of the Catholic Church, at the same time arouse sinners to repentance and call them back to the ways of righteousness. The priests who are selected for this work are chosen men who have displayed special talent.

“A priest who has been trained in this way becomes a most efficient defender of the church against her enemies, and at the same time he is ready to stand before any audience of the learned or the simple, and dissipate the prejudices that so many have against the church.

Preach to Non-Catholics

“They moreover address themselves to non-Catholics. It is known to every one that the ordinary non-Catholic knows as little about the real teachings of the church of God as he does of the number of birds in the air, or of fishes in the sea.

“The Apostolic Mission House is at present engaged in training these missionaries. It is to the Catholic Church what West Point is to the army, or what Annapolis is to the navy.

“The Mission House has been built by the donations of good Catholics in all parts of the country. From the very beginning, it has had the warmest approbation from Rome, and from the bishops of the country. Not only have they commended the work, but they have been most generous in giving the assistance necessary to carry out its purposes.

“To carry on this great work means the outlay of a great deal of money. To place this work on a secure financial basis makes necessary an endowment fund of at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

“The directors of the Catholic Missionary Union are the archbishops of New York and Philadelphia, the bishop of Providence, R. I.; the president of St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore; Father Taylor, of New York; Fathers Elliott and Doyle, Paulists. The latter, Father Doyle, is treasurer and secretary of the corporation, and also the rector of the Apostolic Mission House.

“Besides the work of training the missionaries in the Mission House, we follow our graduates into their chosen field of work, in the necessitous parts of the country, and we support them while they are giving missions. The proposition that is made to the bishops of the more necessitous dioceses of the country is: If you will send your young priest to the Mission House, we will give him five hundred dollars a year, from the time he leaves you; and we will support him, while he is at work giving missions, after he leaves us.”

This outline reveals the great care with which they select and train the young men who are to be sent forth to work in behalf of non-Catholics. The plan is certainly wise. It is exactly what God's true people ought to do to reach all the people of the world with the gospel message. It is to prepare young men and women to do efficient work in all lands that we are now preparing to conduct a Foreign Mission Seminary at Washington. If the Catholics find it necessary to make such thorough preparation to reach the Protestants of America, how much more do we need a thorough and special preparation to reach all classes in all parts of the world.

A. G. DANIELLS.